5 best Seattle Seahawks newcomers of 2023
By Lee Vowell
The Seattle Seahawks are 8-7 and while this record is good enough to currently get in the playoffs, the season has not been that much better than 2022. Many 12s wanted and hoped the team would be much better than last season. The team has been held back some by a few poor offseason signings, such as defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones not panning as well as general manager John Schneider hoped he would.
Seattle has also had a number of injuries along the offensive line. Losing edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu in Week 7 hurt as well. But most of the Seahawks' issues have been inconsistent play.
All that said, there have been a number of first-year Seahawks who have performed well. This includes a mix of rookies and veterans signed or traded for. The best five newcomers might be the ones that follow.
Best Seattle Seahawks newcomer No. 1 - Cornerback Devon Witherspoon
Some 12s still believe the team should have taken defensive tackle Jalen Carter with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Carter has been very good for the Philadelphia Eagles in his rookie year. But Seattle did not make a mistake in choosing Witherspoon. He has been a versatile corner who excels at every facet of the game. While the rookie is graded one spot behind the New York Jets' Sauce Gardner in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus, Witherspoon grades better in every area except coverage compared to Gardner.
Witherspoon is graded as the fourth-best corner in the league this year (Carter, meanwhile, is graded as the sixth-best interior defender) and has been in on 65 tackles, has a 97-yard interception return, 3 sacks, and a Seahawks-leading 16 passes defended. That last number is fourth in the NFL. He also just turned 23 years old so he should be very good for a very long time with Seattle.
Witherspoon is also an excellent and physical tackler. While the Seahawks secondary has had issues in that area this year, that is not due to poor play by Witherspoon. He has also missed the last two games with a hip injury, but he is expected to be back possibly as soon as Week 17.